Nissan’s Year of the Truck: Pathfinder, Armada, and Titan Take the Lead

Trucks and SUVs are a big deal these days. Nissan is embracing that notion with what they’re calling Nissan’s Year of the Truck. This includes an all-new Titan pickup truck, all-new Armada, and refreshed Pathfinder. All three offer a combination of utility, off-road capability, and creature comforts designed to appeal to a wide range of customers.

The seven-passenger 2017 Nissan Pathfinder received a significant refresh this year.

Let’s start small and work our way up. Small is a relative term when you’re talking about SUVs and trucks. The seven-passenger 2017 Nissan Pathfinder received a significant refresh this year. This includes a more aggressive exterior design that’s bolder and more rugged no matter where you look. Its more angular lines hint at its off-road capability.

There’s also a new 3.5-liter V6 engine with 24 more horsepower and 19 more lb-ft of torque than the old Pathfinder. This makes the new Pathfinder faster and more responsive. They also worked hard to improve the ride with a better suspension system to make this SUV ride more like a sedan. If towing is your thing, the Pathfinder has you covered with a 6,000-pound towing capacity.

The improvements continue on the interior where there are multiple small changes that create a better ride experience. This includes reshaped cup holders that fit large mug handles so you can bring your favorite mug along when you rush out the door. There are also two USB ports up front to keep multiple devices charged and an optional motion-activated liftgate to make it easier to load cargo when your hands are full.

Infotainment comes courtesy of a standard 8-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect with voice recognition and Bluetooth. There’s also optional NissanConnect navigation with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link to make getting where you need to go that much easier.

Safety isn’t forgotten with optional Around View monitor and moving object detection to help ensure you don’t miss anything especially in tight quarters like parking lots. Four trim levels from the base Pathfinder S to the top Pathfinder Platinum let you opt for the range of features that fit your needs and your budget.

Next up is the all-new Nissan Armada with room for eight passengers and additional towing capacity.

Tow up to 8,500 pounds with the Armada and its 5.6-liter V8 engine. It produces 390 horsepower with 394 lb-ft of torque paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. You also have your choice of either two-wheel or four-wheel drive depending on what kind of terrain you plan to tackle.

Much like the Pathfinder, the Armada gets a new, tougher look. It’s an SUV that’s ready to do some work, even if you never do anything more difficult than parking in the field at your local fairgrounds. Standard LED low-beam headlights, LED daytime running lights, and fender air intakes add to its sharp new look.

Big SUVs can be noisy and uncomfortable, so Nissan gave the Armada an acoustic glass windshield and front side windows. They also added more sound absorption materials and changed the windshield design all in an effort to improve passenger comfort.

There are optional features to make the whole family happy like a Bose audio system with 13 speakers and a DVD entertainment system with dual seven-inch head restraint monitors. You get two pairs of wireless headphones and a remote control so backseat passengers stay entertained while front seat passengers can carry on a conversation.

For the first time, the Armada offers predictive forward collision warning to help warn drivers before an accident happens. Forward emergency braking is also available to help stop the Armada if the driver still fails to react in time. Lane departure warning, blind spot warning, and intelligent cruise control add even more safety and help give you peace of mind.

The Armada offers three different trim levels. There’s the base SV, mid-range SL, and top Platinum model. All three let you pick two-wheel or four-wheel drive so you can more easily get the perfect configuration for you and your family.

Sometimes an SUV isn’t enough. Sometimes you need the capability of a truck, which is when the Nissan Titan comes into the picture.

The all-new Titan is a full-size pickup that complements the Titan XD.

Don’t think these are merely different trims of the same truck. They’re entirely different trucks designed to appeal to two very different drivers. The one thing they do share is the durability and capability truck customers demand.

The half-ton Titan comes with a new engine. It has a 390-horsepower 5.6-liter paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 is also in the works and will be introduced a bit later.

That powerful engine allows for up to 9,390 pounds of towing capacity and 1,610 pounds of cargo. This is no weedy truck. It’s absolutely ready to do some work.

Since trucks are automotive workhorses, Nissan gave the Titan plenty of features to make the workday easier. Its 5.5-foot bed with spray-on liner features Nissan’s Utili-track bed channel system. It has four heavy-duty aluminum alloy cleats that slide along a track at the top of the walls. Lock them wherever you need them to accommodate any cargo. Floor and header tracks offer even more options for securing a load.

There are optional storage boxes that are watertight, drainable, and removable so you can leave them behind when you need room for larger objects. Even at night, you’ll be able to see what you’re doing thanks to bedrail, cargo, and tailgate lamps.

You get your choice of five Titan trim levels including the Pro-4X for those who plan to spend as much time as possible off-road. There’s also the Platinum Reserve with an interior befitting a luxury car.

The Titan will initially be available in a Crew Cab, but if you don’t need all that passenger space, they have you covered. A new single cab model was just revealed and will be coming soon.

The Pathfinder, Armada, and Titan offer up a trio of choices for SUV and truck buyers. Each comes in a range of trims to suit a fussy buyer’s budget and needs with the safety, capability, and comfort smart buyers demand.